Week 13

This week’s reading shows in great detail how the theories of subalternity can apply to history and why the voiceless-ness of a subaltern is a defining feature of her existence. While the voice of an oppressed individual can be considered legitimate, the voice of a subaltern will not be considered valid unless it is in terms of the dominant mode of hearing. Linda’s lack of control of her sexuality is an important example of this case.

In an earlier chapter we told of a situation where Dr. Flint is accused of being the father of one of his female slaves’ children. In response, Flint whips the accusing husband nearly to death and a year later, has the couple shipped away so that they are “out of sight and hearing”. We discover that the slave women had been promised better treatment in return for her assent, but despite this, Dr. Flint has the woman sold to protect his own reputation.

Linda is made a similar offer but she refuses. Linda’s subordination to her master, Dr. Flint, is defined to a large extent by the lack of control she has over her sexuality. In these conditions, Linda is able to exercise her agency only through acting along this defining feature of her subalternity; she chooses to take Mr. Sands as her lover in the hope that Dr. Flint agrees to sell her.

The result is that Linda is ostracized by everyone, including her grandmother and Mr. Sands refuses to value her even after she bears two of his children. Linda attempts to escape her subalternity, but ends up reinforcing the dominant mode of being; she is no closer to being freed and is still exploited.